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Blue Earth aiding businesses with relief funds

BLUE EARTH — What to do with remaining federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds was a major topic at this week’s Blue Earth City Council meeting.

The city has dispersed much of the funding it has received, but the council learned there is still $49,000 remaining.

After discussing a variety of possible uses, the council voted to give the money to the Blue Earth Economic Development Authority to continue to fund $1,000 grants to local businesses.

EDA specialist Amy Schaeffer reported she had $38,000 on hand in original EDA funding, but had now received 49 more requests for grants.

“I would like to have $11,000 more to fund all these 49 requests,” Schaeffer said. “Actually, I would ask for $22,000 more as the grant application period does not end until next Monday.”

The council looked at other possible ways to spend the money, including on technology for council chambers at City Hall, the meeting room at the Ag Center and the meeting room at the Public Safety Building.

Council members believed using the money to help local businesses is the best use of the funds.

Mayor Rick Scholtes suggested giving the EDA all of the $49,000 now, and then seeing how much of it will be needed to support local businesses.

“We will know by Monday how much will be left, and we can decide what to do with that amount at our next meeting, in November,” he said.

The council agreed and voted unanimously to do just that.

In other business, the council:

— Agreed to a new three-year recycling contract with B&B Sanitation that would include an increase of 5 percent, going from $4.35 per bin to $4.56, as of Nov. 1.

— Agreed to an increase in the Blue Earth Fire Department Relief Association’s benefit level from $2,425 to $2,500 per year of service.

— Had a second reading of a land transfer ordinance and then passed an ordinance that involves the sale of two lots in the Prairie View Subdivision to APX Construction of Mankato.

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